The main scope of the Summer School is the promotion of local development, i.e. promoting the understanding and acknowledgment by both public and private actors of the analysed territories’ capital factors (“Territorial Capital” and its conceptual dimensions) that contribute to build local development strategies. Such strategies are further considered to be the base for any transformation process aimed at guaranteeing better lives for the local communities residing in the selected geographical territories.

The role and the strategic capacity of local actors, together with the commitment to collaborate and coordinate actions towards the design of a "shared future”, represent key elements of development processes rooted in local contexts, in which differences should be exploited as opportunities rather than considered as barriers.

In this way it is possible to promote strong ties between regions and communities; and to design development strategies with a multi-dimensional character, able to integrate the different dimensions – cognitive, social, infrastructural and ecosystemic - of "territorial capital". Addressing territorial capital is a way to face global challenges and to increase communities’ ability to operate and adapt to economic, social and environmental transformations. Moreover, it is essential for local actors to have the required skills to develop the knowledge and specific skills to promote regional partnerships based on integrated public policies, and to be able to price their own human, environmental and institutional resources.

This ability to create relevant social networks, integrating different approaches and experiences, underlies the work methodology developed during the Summer School. The project represents the meeting point of innovative experiences in terms of community development practices performed in the context of the Trentino region in Italy, and in the most varied realities of the Latin American countries. In this way, constructive comparisons under different reading frameworks are strongly encouraged. In other words, the Summer School aims to develop a dialogue between European and Latin American actors who may guide a process of continual redefinition and adaptation of local development strategies.

Objectives

Sharing concepts and ideas on sustainable local development based on comparison of local experiences form Trentino and Latin America, looking for new strategic syntheses.

Providing common interpretation tools and understanding the particularities of selected local experiences, identifying and analysing the main highlights from applied projects and practices aimed at promoting local development according to existing territorial capital.

Promoting online and offline constructive social networks among participantsin order to efficiently exchange relevant knowledge, practical experiences and work methodologies, on local development.

Topics and contents

The Summer School is organised around the understanding and acknowledgment of the capital factors that contribute to building local development strategies. Such a specific mission is strongly based on the theoretical concept of “territorial capital” and its dimensions.

Cognitive capital.

Social capital.

Infrastructure capital.

Eco-systemic capital.

This multidimensional concept represents a cross-disciplinary way to approach multiple territorial characteristics, particularly those that are fundamental to launching an effective process of economic, social, institutional and environmental, development process.

Methodology

A modulare programme structure: one different topic is developed each day.

Three basic inputs are stressed: participants’ Latin American case studies, local experiences in Trentino (Italy), and inputs from experts.

Insertion of theoretical/methodological “essentials”.

“Field visits” are conducted to concrete local initiatives in Trentino (Italy).

Applied practical orientation is highly prioritized.

An active participatory approach and efficient exchange of knowledge/experience among participants before, during and after, the Summer School’s programme are promoted.

The Summer School is based on active exchange of participants’ knowledge and experiences (multi-stakeholder open dialogue). Thus, the case study described in the on-line registration form is considered to be a fundamental condition for registration, and will be presented and discussed during the Summer School’s sessions. If selected, the proposed case study cannot be changed or disregarded.

Participants

Participants should be strongly committed to local development topics and activities. They should currently work (or at least they should have working experience) in public institutions (national, regional, provincial or local governments, development agencies, research centres, international organizations) or private organisations (foundations, co-operatives, NGOs, grassroots community organisations, non-profit entities, etc.) active in the field of local, community, economic and social development.

Participants should be nationals, and residents to the date of application, of a Latin America country.

The on-line application form was to be filled out as indicated:

Personal and professional information.

Motivations for participating in the Summer School.

Case study (project, programme or initiative, whether it is currently being implemented or concluded within the last 5 years and is directly related to the candidate’s professional experience).

The Summer School is organised in co-operation with EAFIT University from Medellin (Colombia), for whom 50% of the 30 available places were reserved. The selection process of the other 15 available places was open to candidates from all Latin American countries ensuring a varied and balanced classroom composition.

The deadline to fill in the on-line registration process was March 31st, 2014 at 24.00 (Italian time).

The selection process was finalised by April 18th, 2014.

The participation was considered to be confirmed once the registration fee was received by the organisers. The registration fee had to be paid no later than May 4th, 2014.

The Summer School will take place from Monday 14th to Friday 25th July, 2014.

VENUE

Trento, Italy.

LANGUAGE

Spanish.

Requirements for participation

Tuition, training materials, and full board (accommodation and food) will be covered by the Summer School’s organisers. Participants will be hosted in double rooms.

A registration fee of 350 Euros is required. Payment instructions will be provided together with the result of the selection process.Daily active participation in the Summer School’s sessions is compulsory during the entire duration of the programme. In case of withdrawal, the registration fee will not be reimbursed.

Transcontinental travel expenses, as well as medical insurance, entry visa application charges (if required for the specific home country), and other personal expenses not specified in this call, will be covered by the participant or by his/her home institution.

It is recommended to verify, as soon as possible, whether citizens from the candidate’s home country are required to apply for an entry visa to Italy. In many instances, the process of granting a visa may take more than 30 days so it is recommended to carry out the corresponding bureaucratic process enough time in advance.